Unique project to save 8th wonder of the world

A group of international power companies has donated a $1 million hydroelectric project to help save legendary rice terraces in the Philippines.
The massive, spectacular and iconic Asian rice terraces were created on mountainsides largely by hand by indigenous people of the northern Ifugao province at least two millennia ago.
Fed by tropical forest springs above, they are popularly referred to as “the stairways to Heaven,” and the “Eighth Wonder of the World.”
Eighty generations later, the terraces’ condition prompted UNESCO in 2001 to include them on its list of World Heritage Sites in Danger.
The $1 million mini-hydro facility, donated by the e8 and located discretely in the Ambangal river downstream of the postcard terraces, will create annually about 1,450 megawatts hour (MWh) of much-needed new energy for the area, meeting 18% of the province’s electricity needs.
It will also generate some US $70,000 in annual revenue for the new Rice Terrace Conservation Fund, fully dedicated to urgently needed shoring up of the terraces and related activities.
The Canada-based E8 comprises  American Electric Power, USA,  Duke Energy, USA, Hydro-Québec, Canada, Ontario Power Generation, Canada, Électricité de France, France, ENEL S.p.a., Italy, RWE AG, Germany, JSC “RusHydro”, Russia, Kansai Electric Power Company, Inc., Japan and Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc., Japan.
The organization’s mission includes promoting sustainable energy development through electricity sector projects in developing and emerging nations as well as playing an active role in the international debate on global electricity.
A 2004 study estimates it will cost $400,000 a year to stop the deterioration of the terraces. But the Ifugao project supervisor and TEPCO general manager of international exchange and cooperation, Yoshihiro Hatano, said the project “is an important first step” and hopes “this contribution by TEPCO and the e8 will inspire and bring other donors to this important cause.”
Located nearly 5,000 feet above sea level, the rice terraces cover more than 4,000 square miles of mountainside. According to folklore, the terraces would wrap around half the globe if placed end to end. They are fed by an ancient irrigation system from the rainforests above.
Causes for the deterioration of the terraces include migration of farmers to cities, declining income from farming and the indiscriminate use of technology, according to the Ifugao Rice Terraces and Cultural Heritage Office.
The e8 will help monitor the Ifugao Ambangal project for two years, overseeing the power plant operations and maintenance activities in close collaboration with the local partners.
Says Ambassador Preciosa S. Soliven, Secretary-General, UNESCO Philippines National Commission: “The building of these rice terraces by hand and with crude tools seems almost miraculous today, completed 2000 years ago -- a time when the population of the entire world was about 230 million, roughly the population today of nearby Indonesia alone. They have been in continuous use ever since.”
“The scale of these structures, their cultural and historical values cannot be overstated. We thank TEPCO and the e8 for this contribution and hope that help may arrive from like-minded others worldwide who share our passion to protect and preserve these legendary terraces for the generations to follow”.
Johane Meagher, E8 executive director, said the project has a unique concept since it will not only provide power to Ifugao communities but will also help secure funds for the conservation of the 2,000-year-old rice terraces in Ifugao Province.
“It is our goal not only to pursue sustainable energy development but to raise awareness of the cultural heritage of one nation. The Ifugao Rice Terraces is a cultural site and must be protected,” she said.

The Ifugao Rice Terraces

Rising to an altitude of about 1500 meters above sea level, the Ifugao Rice Terraces - dubbed the Eighth Wonder of The World, were carved from the harsh terrain of Ifugao province by the hardy native farmers more than 2000 years ago. The terraces run like giant stepping stones, if the walls were laid end to end, they would encircle half the globe.
It is a credit to the inherent wisdom of their forefathers that they instituted a forest management system - a very essential factor in preserving the terraces. Families are allocated small patches of forests which they carefully protect and manage for the provision of wood for fuel, housing and as a watershed from which come the much- needed water for irrigating the terraces.  There are 4 major rice terraces sites in Ifugao. They are similar yet distinct from one another such that the UNESCO has included all of them in the world heritage list, the first to be inscribed as a continuing living cultural landscape.

Banaue

The most famous of all the sites, is a leading tourist destination. The artistic center of the Ifugao, it is a home to the Ifugao carvers (when Hapao used to be part of the municipality) whose marvellous creations are seen throughout the country. Also traded in the daily market different kinds of traditional fabric, like the woven bark cloth and dyed ikat cloth and the traditional jewelry, pfu-ong, representing good luck in hunting or the prosperity of children. These additional sources of income merely supplement what they earn from rice production of “tinawon” rice in red, black and white varieties.

Batad

Located in Banaue is home to the tiered, amphitheater-shaped terraces. A 12 kilometer ride from Banaue Hotel plus a 2 hour hike uphill through mountain trails brings you to a spectacular view of the terraces.
Mayoyao

Lies right within the rice terraces some 44 kilometers from Banaue. Mount Mayoyao marks the border between the majestic Mayoyao Terraces and Banaue Terraces. The Ifugao Hananga and Ayyangan tribes dwell in this area. The mountainous setting makes it a perfect hideaway. In fact, it lies on Gen. Aguinaldo’s escape route to the Sierra Madres during the Philippine revolution. At Harvest time in June and July, each house prepares rice wine to offer visitors and everyone rejoices in the bounty of the season. The organic Ifugao rice, Tinawon in red and white varieties is harvested in abundance.

Hapao

Located in Hungduan is another important rice terraces site. It’s stone-walled rice terraces date back to 650 AD. The ingenious terraces are protected by clean stone walls rising along the Hapao river and irrigated by winding stone canals. Built over time by pounding layers of stones and earth behind the stone wall or dikes, each layer was gradually covered with new and finer soil topped by cleat soil which allows water to fill each terrace with measured precision retaining 1 to 4 mm. of water throughout the year.
The ancient arts of carving and metal smiting are very much alive here. Near Hapao, smiths have been making the Ifugao bolo or machete since the 17th century. It is claimed that the fine Ifugao woodcarving tradition originated in this area.
Many armies from General Emilio Aguinaldo to General Tomoyuki Yamashita have found refuge in this mountainous area. The remains of General Artemio Ricarte, leader of the Revolution of 1896 were originally buried here. General Yamashita’s final hideaway at the end of WW2 was MT. Napulawan and its many hidden valleys. Reputed to be the hiding place of General Yamashita’s gold, this pristine forest has many trails and caverns waiting to be discovered.